Smoking Doubles Dementia Risk Later in Life

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39837972/ns/health-addictions/

Time to be Honest

Okay, it's time to be honest. The Chicago Marathon was draining, both physically and mentally. It has taken a major emotional toll on me. I am having major motivation issues, which has resulted in only 3 short runs since Chicago. I used to be addicted to running, but now sometimes the thought of having to run is just too much for me. I don't know if this is due to being scared of failing again, or if all the running I have been doing the past few months is just catching up with me. I read a Runner's World article yesterday about a woman who changing everything she said to "I get to" instead of "I have to." I tried that this morning when my alarm went off...I thought, "I get to go running." Unfortunately, that didn't work. I ended up resetting the alarm and going back to sleep. My goal is to run this afternoon.

I still have a training schedule for the St. Jude marathon that I plan on following. I just don't know if I will be able to do it. Honestly, I have no desire to have to relive my Chicago experience. I don't know whether I should train and try to run it or decide not to run it and just run when I feel like it for however long I feel with cross training on my "off" days.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly welcome it.

Did Not Finish

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. If only the race was the Chicago 18 miler, I would have been golden.

On Sunday, I was very upset about not being able to finish. I did listen to my body though, so I know I did the right thing. The temperatures reached the mid 80s with blaring sunshine. The course alert system went from a green at the start of the race to yellow to finally red. Red indicated a high alert level which meant potentially dangerous conditions. The recommended actions for red were "slow down/observe course changes/follow event official instruction/consider stopping." After a "bubble" forming in my right ear which led to difficulties breathing, I started to worry. After seeing a lady being carried off the course in a stretcher, I really started worrying and ended up having a panic attack. I kept trying to push through, and the last few miles that I ran/walked were a complete blur. I finally pulled over at the medical tent at mile 18 to call it a day.

To be honest, I have been beating myself up for not finishing. However, I know that I would have just caused myself harm had I continued. Luckily, I have already signed up for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis on December 4. The temperature should be much better, and I won't have to travel! I will conquer the marathon!!

Race Day

It's here...race day. I'm at the hotel now eating breakfast and getting ready for the day. We carb loaded last night at this little Italian place. I tried to get as much sleep as possible last night, but I was tossing and turning a lot. In about 30 minutes, we are leaving the hotel and walking to the start line. I'm still very nervous!

Bundle of Nerves

I am a complete and total bundle of nerves right now. I'm having a hard time concentrating at work. I am constantly looking up more stuff on the Chicago Marathon website and the Runner's World website. I am just ready to go. If I'm feeling this way at 10am on Friday, I can't imagine how I will be feeling at 7:30am on Sunday.

Luckily, I just found this quote on Runner's World...how appropriate. "Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick." ~Steve Bull

Quote for the Week

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

~ Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Runner Tracker

Good news! You can follow my Chicago Marathon progress from the comfort of your own home.

If you sign up for runner tracker you can receive real-time updates via text message throughout the race. Updates will be received as runners cross the start line, 10K, halfway (13.1 miles), and 30K checkpoints, as well as the finish line. To sign up for Runner Tracking, follow this link http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT.

My bib number is 10962.

Race Week

Wow, it is finally here...race week. Back in January, when I first had the idea of running the Chicago Marathon, October 10 seemed a lifetime away. I can not believe that it's this Sunday. Time sure does fly by!

I have been tapering these past couple of weeks. It's a very odd sensation going from 19 mile runs to 8 mile runs. The 3-4 mile runs during the week are strange as well. I know that the tapering is designed to give my legs a break so they are fresh for the run. I just worry that I am losing endurance instead.

Yesterday, the 10 day forecast for Chicago called for a few rain showers on Sunday. I just checked again...mostly sunny, a low of 55, and a high of 73. YAY!